Natalie's Dance

Chapter 4

Natalie's Dance

The night of the dance arrived. Polly spent several hours turning around and around in her dress and fixing and unfixing her long blackish hair. She just couldn't decide on a style.

Finally, John arrived with a flower for her wrist to wear during the dance. It was from her flower garden she'd planted years ago on his property just outside the old barn where the vegetable garden had been planted.

"How is the garden?" She asked as she pulled the flower around her wrist and tied it with a tiny knot just to keep it in place.

"It's doing great," John answered, "Joe waters it everyday."

"Oh," she replied, "Is he going to attend the dance?"

John laughed. "Natalie wouldn't have it any other way. She came over the other day just to make sure he was coming." He paused for a moment and then added. "I think she's after him for a husband."

"You think so?" She asked.

"He's pretty popular with the ladies," John answered. "You wouldn't think so..."

"Why," Polly asked realizing she liked him too.

"Well, he's a..." he looked over his shoulder just to make sure no one else was listening. "He's a..."

"An Indian?" Polly said, "So what?"

"He has a white mans education..." she informed him. "He dresses well and he is polite."

"What?" John asked. I had no idea he had an education."

"You've listened to him talk," she laughed, "Doesn't he sound educated? Doesn't he dress more like a white man?" She picked up her shawl and headed towards the door.

John made no reply and opened the door leading out.

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By the time they arrived the party was I full swing. Everyone was dancing. Polly looked around to see where Natalie was. She wasn't too surprised to see her standing near Joe. Joe wasn't eating even though he was standing next to the refreshment table.

He appeared to be scanning the dancers. Who was he looking for. The song ended and a new one started a few moments after the first one finished.

"Shall we dance?" John asked. He held out his hand and bowed towards her.

"No," Polly answered. "I think I'll head over to the refreshment table and get a drink. "Why don't you talk to Ned over there and Randy about your cornfield while I get my drink?" She nodded in the direction of the two men and John headed of without a second look.

She was happy cause, John couldn't dance. Her big toes still hurt from the last dance they attended a few weeks ago.

As she approached the table Joe stepped up and held out his hand. "Might I have this dance?" he asked very politely.

Polly was shocked. She turned her head and saw Natalie's mouth drop open. She couldn't resist. If it would brother Natalie she had to dance with him.

"Of course," she answered. As the dancers approached them Joe found a spot for them to join in and they began to dance.

He smelled so good! She stepped in closer just to get a whiff of whatever aftershave he was wearing. They moved with the other dancers and he stepped away and joined the males in the line up. She joined the females. They traveled around in a circle and each spun off as their partner approached. She stepped up and he swung her around in a perfect circle before they stepped back in line with the other dancers.

She glanced over her shoulder to see Natalie's rage and John's busy talk to other farmers unaware of where she was and what she was doing.

The music changed slowly and Joe had to take her into his arms and spin her around and around. With every loop she got a whiff of his aftershave and felt as if she was in heaven. John never wore aftershave. She sighed. Why hadn't Natalie flirted with John. They were the prefect couple.

The music ended. Polly smiled.

"Thanks for dance." She moved away from Joe towards the refreshment table.

He quickly followed her. "Do you want a drink?" He asked her as he came up on her left side keeping as far away from Natalie as he could get. The dance music began again.

"Yes," she answered in her gentlest, softest voice. "What will you have?" He inquired. "I'm going to have some of that pumpkin drink I see over on the left there." He pointed in a direction far away from Natalie.

She laughed. "Trying to avoid Natalie are you?"

He laughed too. That obvious is it?"

"Lookout," Polly nodded, "here she comes..."

"Lets have another dance," Joe said as he took her hand and pulled her back to the dance floor.

Just out of the side of her eye she saw John approaching. The look on his face wasn't a pleasant one.

Was John going to object?